Vikings: Week 1

I am grateful that I have a Digital Video Recorder (DVR). Last night I reffed an adult volleyball league and wasn't present to watch my favorite football team lose to the rival Green Bay Packers. I did however, review the game after I got home and observed positive and negatives from this early season. I will try to post thoughts the day after each game. These posts will come as a fan's reaction that is aimed at not making football a god or an idol, but as a hobby that if not carefully discerned can turn into the previous if not kept in check (examples include: watching games, checking stats, working on fantasy team research, and spending too much time blogging about game reactions).

Positives

1. A Better Effort in Green Bay - If memory serves me right we lost 34-0 last year at Lambeau Field as well as losing Adrian Peterson to a knee injury. Most fans shut off the TV in the third quarter after the injury. This year the game came down to the final possession and our running back ran over Al Harris, pounded the ball for 4-6 yards all night, ended with 103 yards and a TD, and didn't get hurt.
2. The Second Half - the Vikings did look like a different team offensively in the second half. T Jack did move the ball and it was too bad that Bernard Berrian tripped over the 45-yard line on possibly T Jack's best throw of the night (under pressure from a blitz and hit Berrian in stride on a slant that should have gone for 6). It is surprising that Childress and company made half-time adjustments - something that has been lacking in the past.
   
3. Balance - the offense was more balanced than many games last year. The Vikings last year were the leagues best running team and pretty much the worst passing team. Last night they gained 355 total yards with better balance (168 passing - still pretty low and 187 - rushing).
4. The D - proved it can still stuff the run - but is susceptible to big plays in the running game if one tackle is missed or assignments missed (Ryan Grant's 4th quarter run).

Negatives

1. Tavaris Jackson - Aaron Rodgers looked like the guy who had 15 career starts and T Jack looked at times like he was making his 1st career start. Jackson made a horrible throw and threw away the game. Jackson did take the blame for the loss in his post-game interview, but is he improving and can he be a marquee franchise quarterback???? This was a game against one of the best defenses he will see this year (along w/TN, Jacksonville, and Tampa Bay). Also, after last season missing 4 games due to injury - will you please slide Tavaris!! Ray Lewis already gave you a sprained MCL - now your putting your head down numerous times against AJ Hawk and Nick Barnett????
   
2. No Sacks - The Vikes invested highly in Jared Allen (draft picks and a huge contract) and although there were a couple of hurries and they did force Rodgers out of the pocket to scamper - I was pretty disappointed that we could not register one sack on Rodgers.
3. Special Teams - Heath Farewell was the Vikings special teams captain and MVP last year for the second year in a row. He is out for the season w/injury and his absence was visible last night as the Pack ran a punt back for what proved to be a huge score. In addition our return game was terrible and has been for a long time (hopefully Maurice Hicks coming back from injury will help that). Lastly, we missed a huge opportunity to recover an onside kick that Ryan Longwell kicked perfectly and brushed off a Green Bay player only to go out of bounds.
4. Missed Calls - I officiate Volleyball and Basketball (on a high school level - not professional) - so I know that officiating is not easy, but come on guys, seriously. I enjoy MNF because the commentating crew (Mike Torico, Tony Kornheiser, and Ron Jaworski) do act like fans sometimes which was evident when the Vikes were making a late drive and Nick Barnett horsecollared Chester Taylor and no flag was thrown - to which Torico said, "HORSECOLLAR???" to which the booth went silent which means they pretty much agreed, but didn't want to trash the refs on national TV. Another examples was the booth review that clearly showed that the Vikings should win the review. The commentators and every fan in America (except Cheese Heads) would agree that the call should be overturned, but the officials came back and let an obvious catch stand. Silly!

In conclusion, the A Rodgers era in Green Bay got off to a rocky, but positive start. The most positive part of the game for me was that maybe now the Favre comparisons can stop and the media can just let both guys just play a simple game. That probably won't happen. Also what won't happen is Peyton Manning looking like he did against the Bears on Sunday night. So the Vikings better practice hard, think hard, and get some pressure on the quarterback or we're looking at an 0-2 start amidst a season of very high expectations.